Permits/Certificates of Origin

North Carolina regulations specify that certain activities such as collecting, selling/trading, and purchasing protected plant species require a permit or certificate of origin issued by the NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. The information below summarizes the regulations and operational procedures. We encourage interested parties to review the official language in the regulations [02 NCAC 48F .0400]. The regulations have been condensed into a written description as well as a flowchart below to help you determine if your protected plant activities will require a permit/certificate of origin or not.

If you have any questions, you may contact us directly at (919) 707-3758.

Collecting: A protected plant permit is required when rescuing or collecting (scientific collections included) protected plants species on land you do not own- even with land-owner permission. This is true for whole plants as well as plant parts (i.e. seeds or rhizomes). If you are collecting protected plants or plant parts from your own property, (and NOT selling or giving them away) then no permit is needed.

Acquiring/Purchasing: Individuals who purchase protected species to plant in a home garden do not need a permit; however, a permit IS needed to (1) acquire and relocate a protected species in a non-garden setting, (2) to propagate, or to (3) re-sell, auction, or otherwise give away a protected species. All commercial operations regarding purchase of protected plant species will require a certificate of origin.

Propagating and/or Offering (Selling/Trading/Bartering/or Exchanging): No wild collected protected plants (or plant parts) may be offered for sale or trade. Only propagated stock may be sold, traded, or otherwise exchanged even if for free. All commercial operations must acquire protected plant permits or certificates of origin for each protected plant species they propagate and sell. All individuals, non-profit organizations, and exempt entities will also require protected plant permits to sell whole plants with protected status.

More information can be found at theSee the Nursery Registration page for more information regarding establishing a commerical operation (i.e. nursery).

APPLICATION FOR OBTAINING, UPDATING, OR RENEWING PROTECTED PLANT CONSERVATION OR PROPAGATION PERMITS use the following link: Permits.pdf to view, navigate or print the application.

Use the following link to submit a request for a protected plant permit application.

THIS PROGRAM DOES NOT ISSUE PERMITS FOR GINSENG HARVEST. THOSE INTENDING TO HARVEST GINSENG NEED WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE LANDOWNER OR AGENCY.